Rising at Dawn and the Raising of the Dead

“…a man without help, free among the dead” (Psalm 88:4-5). And again the same says in the 82nd Psalm, “Arise, O God, judge the earth” (Psalm 82:8). And Isaiah says, “He who brought up from the earth the great shepherd of the sheep” (Isaiah 63:11; compare Hebrews 13:20). And Nahum says, “Behold, swift upon the mountains are the feet of one who brings good news of peace” (Nahum 1:15).

75. That the soldiers will guard the tomb in vain. David says in the 76th Psalm, “They slept their sleep and found nothing” (Psalm 76:5).

76. That the resurrection is at dawn. David says in the 30th Psalm, “Weeping will lodge for the evening, and at dawn there will be rejoicing” (Psalm 30:5). And again he says in the 88th, “I cried out to You, Lord, and at dawn my prayer will come before You” (Psalm 88:13). And again he says in the 57th, “Awake, harp and lyre; I will awake at dawn” (Psalm 57:8).

77. That the place will be a witness. Nahum says, “Make ready, rise early; all their gleanings are spoiled. Therefore wait for Me, says the Lord, for the day of My resurrection, as My witness; for My judgment will bring in all My enemies” (Zephaniah 3:7-8).

78. That it is by the outer wall. In the Song of Songs it says, “Arise, come, my companion, in the shelter of the rock, close by the outer wall” (Song of Solomon 2:13-14).

79. That He will be sought by women. In the Song of Songs it says, “On my bed I sought him whom my soul loved; I sought him, and I did not find him. Have you seen him whom my soul loved?” (Song of Solomon 3:1-3).

80. That He will first meet women. In the Song of Songs it says, “I found him whom my soul loved; I held him and would not let him go” (Song of Solomon 3:4).

81. That they will go away in fear. David says in the 2nd Psalm, “Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling” (Psalm 2:11). And Isaiah says, “Women who come from the sight, come here; for this is not a people with understanding” (Isaiah 27:11).

82. That He will breathe the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Nahum says, “Make ready, rise early; all their gleanings are spoiled. For He went up, breathing into their face” (Zephaniah 3:7; Nahum 2:1).

83. That after the resurrection He will eat from a honeycomb. In the Song of Songs it says, “I ate my bread with my honey” (Song of Solomon 5:1). The bitter before the passion, and the sweet after the resurrection.

84. That they will say He was stolen. Jonah says, “Those who hold to vain and false things have forsaken their mercy” (Jonah 2:8). And Isaiah says, “But tell us, and report to us, another deception” (Isaiah 30:10).

85. That the dead will rise. Hosea says, “They will rise early to Me, saying, ‘Let us go and return to the Lord, for He has struck us, and He will heal us; He will strike, and He will make us whole after two days; and on the third day we shall rise up before Him’” (Hosea 5:15-6:2). And Isaiah says, “The dead will rise, and those in the tombs will be raised, and those on the earth will rejoice” (Isaiah 26:19). And Zechariah says, “And you, by the blood of the covenant, have sent out your prisoners from a pit that has no water” (Zechariah 9:11). And again Hosea says, “I will rescue them from the hand of Hades, and I will redeem them from death. Where is your penalty, O death? Where is your sting, O Hades?” (Hosea 13:14). And Ezekiel says, “Thus says the Lord: I am opening your tombs, and I will bring you up out of your tombs and bring you into the land of Israel; and you will know that I am the Lord when I open your graves…” (Ezekiel 37:12-13).